The Wellness Community

Frankly Speaking About Colorectal Cancer

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(Second edition)

Main Page The Patient Active Approach   Ten actions people with colorectal cancer can take   Being Patient Active with colorectal cancer Understanding Colorectal Cancer   Signs and symptoms   Risk Factors   Genetic testing   Screening   Diagnosis and Staging   Seeking a second opinion   Stages of colorectal cancer Building and Working with Your Healthcare Team   Key members of your healthcare team   Communication is the key to getting your needs met with ease   Asking questions Treatment for Colorectal Cancer   Surgery for colon cancer   Surgery for rectal cancer   Surgery for metastatic colorectal cancer   Chemotherapy   Chemoradiation   Targeted (or biologic) treatments   How you get treatments for colorectal cancer   Colorectal cancer treatment table   Treatment options by stage   Treatment issues with incurable disease   Participating in clinical trials   Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) Managing Side Effects of Colorectal Cancer Treatments   Managing surgery side effects   Ostomy (colostomy or ileostomy)   Managing side effects of chemotherapy and targeted therapy   Managing side effects of radiation for rectal cancer   Managing bowel obstructions and/or perforations Quality of Life Considerations   Dealing with distress   The value of emotional support   Support groups   Advocacy   Counseling   Close relationships   Helping children cope   Talking about colorectal cancer   Humor   Sexuality   Spirituality   Making the mind-body connection   Managing career and financial concerns   When treatment is over   Recurrence   Death and dying Resources   Support for people living with ostomies   Help with financial and legal concerns   Government agencies   Clinical trial information   Culturally specific resources go

Help with financial and legal concerns

NeedyMeds

• www.needymeds.com

Most pharmaceutical companies have programs for people who can’t afford their medications to receive free drugs if they meet financial criteria. This site is designed to provide information about patient assistance programs which provide no-cost prescription medications to eligible participants.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance

• www.pparx.org

The new Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together US pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other healthcare providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that’s right for them.

Co-Pay Relief Patient Assistance Program

• www.copays.org

Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief (PAF CPR) provides co-payment assistance for pharmaceutical products to insured Americans who financially and medically qualify. PAF CPR provides direct financial assistance to qualified patients to assist them in the ability to afford the co-payments their insurance requires. The program offers personal service to all patients through the use of CPR call counselors.

Surviorship A-Z

• www.survivorshipatoz.org

This web site provides practical information for living successfully after a diagnosis.

CancerCare Assist

• 1-800-813-4673
• www.cancercare.org

CancerCare is an organization for people with all types of cancer, and the CancerCare Assist program specifically helps with financial issues. They also have a very helpful informational sheet called “Tips on Finding Financial Assistance” which is available on their web site and they have a financial assistance program with application forms on their web site.

Patient Advocate Foundation

• 1-800-532-5274
• www.patientadvocate.org

Patient Advocate Foundation offers assistance to patients with specific issues they are facing with their insurer, employer and/or creditor regarding insurance, job retention and/or debt crisis matters relative to their diagnosis of life threatening or debilitating diseases.

Air Charity Network

• 1-800-446-1231
• www.aircharitynetwork.org

Corporate Angel Network

• 1-866-328-1313
• www.corpangelnetwork.org

These two organizations fly qualified patients to treatment sites, free, using empty seats on corporate flights.

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